Bill Would Shorten Early Voting

05 February 2014

Jeff Dantre

ATLANTA - Legislation has been filed in the State House that would shorten early voting periods from 21 to six days in small Georgia cities.
The Georgia Municipal Association says the current voting period is too costly for local taxpayers, citing examples like staffing three people as poll workers on days when almost no one shows up to vote.

The League of Women Voters is against the idea. It’s president, Elizabeth Poythress, says it would be a giant step backwards for the election process in Georgia and an attempt to limit voting. She calls it a clear byproduct of the controversial Supreme Court decision to eliminate prior approval of changes to election laws in Georgia under the voting rights act.

The bill would not affect Athens, Augusta, Columbus and the state’s other consolidated cities, which can opt to be considered counties for election purposes.